Tumbleweeds

[chuck j]

Took him a while but Zeke had found a level piece of ground with what looked like a lot of new growth grass . It was about a thirty min walk from the cabin and he scouted the best way to get the wagon there and back . He would go back after it cooled off a bit taking the scythe and start mowing . The morning would be the best time to mow and get a lot done . He needed to get the wheels off the wagon to the river and soak em a day .

He came to the cabin from the east to the pen so he could water and unsaddle the mule and leave him in case she needed him . He would take one of his horses to mow . The mule's neck was wet with sweat , they had covered a lot of ground .

He turned around the pen and shed and saw her ! She was laying face down in the dirt , her head in a small pool of blood . He kicked the mule , got to her , kicked out of the stirrups and slid off the saddle . He ran the few steps to her hollering...Ma'am..Ma'am...Ma'am !

He knelt down beside her , she was making noises trying to draw breath . He gently turned her over , when she fell she bloodied her nose and her teeth had cut her lips , Her nose and mouth were full of blood and dirt . She was red as a beet and not sweating . She had made water on herself and she would not wake up . Nate was crying in the house . Zeke picked her up hurrying to the cabin as he just kept repeating ….GOD GOD help me GOD ..help me ….

[chuck j]

He carried her in and laid her on the table . He was trying to think ! He drug her bed to in front of the doorway leaving enough room to get in and out . There were two quilts nicely folded and stacked by the bed , he put one on the bed in case she made water . He undressed her on the table mumbling all the while he put her on the bed . He got a bucket of water and flour sacks mumbling ...you have to have sacks ...you have to have sacks . He picked her up and laid her on the bed and bathed her , the wind was out of the south and she would get a breeze in the doorway . He got the dirt and blood out of her nose and mouth and tied her hair back with a piece of cord .He picked up her gown folded by the bed and put it on her ...he figured she would have a fit if she woke up naked .

He drug a bench by the bed .He started wiping her face with a damp sack and laid damp sacks on her arms and legs , she was burning up . Her skin was red and she still struggled for breath . Nate was crying , he picked him up and held him as he kept her face and throat cool . He rocked Nate and silently prayed .

[chuck j]

He found the dandelion greens in the pot on the table along with the catfish in the lard bucket . Nate had to eat and maybe she could eat later...he didn't hold out much hope for that . He cooked the food while tending her . Come dark he got the oil lamp off the mantel and lit it . It would be a long night

He prayed , he talked to her , he talked to himself .
Lord I thought you put this woman in front of me cause I needed help Lord . Maybe you put me here to help her . I know your hand is in this Lord but I don't know what to do . GOD help me , show me what to do . Give me the strength to help her . I know she has trouble Lord that's why she is staying so busy , she don't want to face it . Guide me father in what to do . I am lost . Amen

He said to her …
You are one of the strongest women I have ever seen ..I see no guile in you ma'am . But your holden a trouble in you that you wont let go . I am here and I will help you . I'll do all the talkin right now but we will figure this out ma'am . We will talk later . Our father put us together and we are going to figure it out . You need to drink water ma'am , your fever seems less and your breathing is better but I am here .

He patted her cheeks and called to her but she laid still .

[chuck j]

At first light Zeke staked the stock out and milked the cow . She was still laying there when he came back not having moved . He felt her head and the fever was gone . He gathered up the sacks he had used and started a pile of dirty laundry . He hadn't noticed she had done the laundry yesterday too , he just shook his head . He had watched her grind whole corn to meal with the small handheld coffee grinder , he tried it and thought ….this will take some time . He was fixing cornmeal mush for Nate . He hoped he could rouse her to eat and drink ...she had to drink a lot of water . He had seen this many times , it had happened to him .


He got the cornmeal cooking and woke Nate , he talked and played with him . Nate was easy to make happy . He put Nate back on his pallet and took a glass of water to her . He shook her talking to her , her eyes slowly cracked open then she was scared . He said ...You was struck down by heat sickness . Can you see alright ? She could barely talk but said yes . He said ... I want you to drink all the water you can , your body is out of water . He held her head up and told she to sip all she could . She drank a whole glassful but it took time . He said ...I want you to eat something and drink more water in a bit . Go back to sleep , your body is worn out . I'll wake you dreckly . He told her ...I know you can't move your arms and legs right now , I have your chamber pot and if you need to go I'll help you , now you rest .


He was relived , she was bad weak but could see and drink . He fed Nate mush and milk then said . Lets go tend to Pie and fill the stock water trough . Thankfully she had saved the grass close to the house so he hadn't had to take the stock out on the prairie . He cut grass and made sure Pie was alright then they went back to the cabin . He woke her and said ...You got to eat I'm getting you some mush and you need drink at least a glass of water . Are you thinking alright , the sun can mess up your mind bad . She shook her head yes . She ate about a half cup full and he gave her water then told her to rest .

He picked up Nate and the rifle and told Nate ...I'm goin be the first one to take you huntin , we got to have some meat .

[chuck j]

He headed for the corn field , there were jackrabbits and maybe a snake . He couldn't be gone long in case she needed him . As he carried Nate he talked to him like he was able to understand ….You know Nate this is a nice rifle , back in Georgia where I come from we just had a couple of old trashy rifles and one ol twelve gage shotgun . We done a lot of quail and duck huntin , I shore do like fried quail ...now course you can oil , pepper em and fill em with red haws and slow cook em next to the fire and that's some fine eatin too . I liked to hunt deer back then , all kinds of ways to make venison good eatin . Coon ain't bad but it's terrible greasy , you sure need to trim all the fat off you can but we ate a many a one . I wish we had a shotgun , heck we'd try to walk up a covey of quail ...theres plenty of em in Texas .


When they got to the cornfield he told Nate as he propped him up against a big rock and put a rock on either side of him . He said ...Now you pay attention son , ol Zeke is gonna shake lunch and dinner out of that corn , pretty soon you'll be doin it . Zeke walked wide of the field and walked back in toward it , if there was a jackrabbit hiding in the grass he would break out in the open corn .

Third time Zeke walked back to the corn working around the field and a black eared jackrabbit broke running in the field . Zeke stopped still and whistled loud and the rabbit stopped in the cornstalks . Zeke raised the rifle and shot , the rabbit rolled and kicked . Zeke went and picked him up then went back to Nate and said … We got a fine meal for your mama , good Lord willin we are gonna make jackrabbit and dumplins !

[chuck j]

Zeke and Nate got to the cabin , Zeke dropped the jackrabbit on the porch to clean , took Nate and laid him on his pallet . Then checked her after getting a glass of water . He laid his hand on her shoulder and started talking to her . Her eyes opened and he held her head up saying ...You got to drink some more , we got to get a lot of water in you . He let her sip till she drank the whole glass . He asked ...Can you move your arms and legs ? She tried but could move them very little . Zeke said ...That's good ! You will be alright it will get better , I'll help you . We are having jackrabbit and dumplins , I better get to work cookin . He knew he had lied to her , she might not get better .


Nate was watching him and he said ...We got to get the days cookin done , bring in the stock , tend to Pie dreckly and clean this rifle before we sleep . We better get busy Nate as he picked him up .

[chuck j]

Zeke took Nate out under the mesquite tree out front with the rabbit and said … Now I'll show you how I skin a rabbit , he laughed and said ...there's as many ways to skin a rabbit as there is ways to skin a cat but I like this way . He got his belt knife and said ...Now you cut across the middle of his back then step on his head and just rip the back half off as he did so . Then you step on his back feet and just pull the hide up to his head on the neck far as you can . Make a slit up his belly and gut him . Then just cut his head off , snap the hind legs at the big joint and cut em off . Now see there, ain't nothin to it ! You'll be doin it in no time . Now lets clean him up and get him on the fire .


Next I'm gonna show you how to make tortilla's , we're goin ta use em for dumplins . Now I never used em for dumplins but don't see how come it would not work . It'll be a new deal for both us ! I sure am enjoyin spendin the morning with you Nate . He laughed out loud and said ...There ain't no tellin how much trouble me and you can get into !

[chuck j]

He got the rabbit cut up and in the pot then he got the flour , lard and salt . He stirred up the dough in a bowl and worked it with his hands . He pinched off dough and patted out the tortillas .He heated a frying pan up and cooked them , layed em on a plate and covered em with a danp sack . He gathered Nate up and went behind the shed where the wagon was . The rabbit needed to cook a good for a while then bone the meat out before he added the tortillas .

He put Nate in the shade then started gathering wood blocks that were stacked up neat against the shed...drops from building the cabin and shed . He got the wagon hammer and a long pole to use for a lever to jack the wagon up . It was a real job by himself but he got the wagon blocked up and wheels off , he leaned em against the shed . He saddled the black mule since he had pulled the sledge all the time then went to check the rabbit and her . He added a little water to the rabbit and woke her to drink water , she said she needed to go . He pulled her sideways on the bed with her legs off the bed and helped her use the pot . He cleaned her and scooted her back on the bed . She thanked him and said..It's shames me , I'm sorry . He said ...Ain't no shame ma'am , you'd do it for me ...we got ta help each other .


He told her ...I got the wheels offen the wagon ma'am , I'm gonna load two of em on the sledge and take em to the river but it wont take long . Now you rest up and get ready for rabbit a dumplins Nate and me are makin ! You got to rest and do what I tell you , heck I never told a white person what to do but your gonna do as I say . You got Nate to think of but I'm lookin after him good .GOD is workin ma'am this is gonna be fine ...we just gotta work with him . This evenin I'll read some bible to you , I see you got John fourteen marked and that's a great place to start . We will be back ma'am .

[chuck j]

Zeke hooked the bridle loop on the horn and lifted Nate up in the shawl to the horn . They walked to the river and Zeke rolled the wheels in the shallow where she washed , They went back and loaded the other two , Zeke tied the mule and went to check the rabbit and her . She drank a bit more water and he walked the mule to the river again and unloaded the wheels with the first .

They walked back and he threw the bridle off the horn and gave the black mule a drink then tying him to the mesquite in front of the cabin . They went in and Zeke pulled the rabbit off the fire , pulled the meat off the bone chopping it fine so Nate and her would have no problem swallowing it . He cut up the tortillas and added them in the pot to simmer a bit He ran out to the shed and got in one of his packs when he discovered she was out of pepper .

He finished the cooking and dished up some For Nate and her , he fed Nate first chopping his dumpling up good . Nate was full so he put him down for a nap . He carried a bowl and a glass of water to the bed and woke her . He said ...It's time to eat ma'am ! Nate is taking a nap and he is fed ...he liked the dumplins . I got a bench set agaist the wall and I'm a gonna carry you and sit you up . He did and talked to her as he spooned food in her mouth . Ma'am Nate did a fine job today ! He helped me hunt down and shoot that rabbit , yes ma'am he's gonna be a fine hunter ! Then he helped me get the wagon wheels off and take em to the river ! I couldn't a done it without him ! THEN he helped me with this meal of rabbit and dumplins , Ma'am he is a wonder ! He'll make a good hand come time he's needed . You , him and me are natural workers but we know we got to teach him not to hide what troubles him by work . You and me are the same creature ma'am though we are different colors . We push our hurt back by workin hard as we can . We got to teach him to share his pain to GOD and those that care for him . I care for you ma'am , you'd be the right age to be my daughter . I never had no children but you could sure nuff be mine ! You act like me and times are that's not a good thing . I want you well .


Now your gonna get mad at me pretty quick because I spect you to start movin all you can to get your strength back and times it's gonna hurt . You start movin you arms and legs all you can I'll help you , if you lay in that bed too long you will never leave it .

[chuck j]

Zeke gently carried her to the bed and told her to rest . He said ...I'm going to bring the stock in to water them and get them in the shade of the trees at the pen . I will be back soon , do you have anything you want done ? She shook her head no . Zeke said … Don't shake your head at me ... speak . She said quietly ...No . He patted her shoulder and said ...I'll be back .


He tightened the girt on the black mule and hauled up . He gathered his horses and watered them letting them rest in the shade . He fetched the cow and put her in the lot too . He filled the trough and checked on Pie giving him hay and water thinking he had to soak and poultice the knee this evening . He didn't know the amount of ingredients to make it ...but she would tell him .



He had made a bed of hay in the shed and laid his blanket on top using his winter coat for a pillow . He gathered the blanket and coat . He went to the cabin and laid the blanket and coat out by her bed . He needed to stay in the cabin in case her or Nate needed him . He bagged up the plums on the wagon sheet and carried them in stacking them neatly against the wall . He straightened up in the cabin quietly and carried the soapy water wash bucket outside on the porch and cleaned the dishes . They had rabbit and dumplings with the dandelion greens left from yesterday for supper .

[chuck j]

Zeke went to the shed and took the harness down from the rafters being hung there to make it harder for the rats to get to it . The collars were hanging on the wall . He tied the mule and his black horse up to the fence and adjusted the harness to fit . There was a tin of leather oil so he oiled the harness and hung it on the pen fence to be in the sun to heat up letting the oil soak in quicker . The single trees and double tree for the wagon was in the shed . He knew that it had been used to plow and snake logs up from the river to build the cabin and shed . He took the double and single trees and put them on the wagon . He gathered up the hammer , axe , wedges , adze and carried them to the back of the shed .


There was a huge stack of rounds with bark still on them from hewing logs that had been saved from building . They had been outside a while and the bark was easy to knock off . He started splitting slats and using the saw trimmed them . He measured with a piece of string and sawed cross pieces . He nailed and wired the tops . He had built three tripods with crosspieces to dry meat . Him and Nate were going hunting in a few days .

[chuck j]

He went to the cabin and checked her and Nate . She was still asleep but Nate was awake . He got a flour sack , got the shawl to carry Nate and they quietly left to go to the cornfield . On the way out he picked up the rifle . He talked to Nate all the way there .


Nate we got a lot to do . Tomorrow me and you are going to mow hay ….we got to get that done . Now I figure it ought to cure enough in three ta four days we can turn and windrow it and leave it two more days . then we'll pile it and gather . We shore got ta pray it don't rain till we get the hay in or we are in trouble .
With your mother sick we need to put in some meat so we will have it if we need to tend her and don't have time to hunt . I lived with a family of Lipan Indians last year and helped em dry meat . The way they done it was simple sept for tending the fires which ain't really hard but it takes time and you got ta steady keep the heat right . Ain't no big deal Nate cause you and me can get it done . I got faith in you son , you never complain and your always ready to get it done .


They got to the cornfield and pulled half a sack of ears and started walking back . Zeke told Nate ...You better get ready because I'm gonna make your mama mad this evenin ...yes sir ! I'm gonna make her mad .

They got to the cabin and Zeke pulled the coals out of the ashes and got a fire going in the fireplace to make supper . He woke her up shaking her by the shoulders . She was startled and her eyes looked angry , he kept shaking her and said ...Are you awake ! She raised her arms some wanting to move his hands off her shoulders . He told her … Nate is frettin some and needs ta be held can you hold him . She answered ...Yes ! Zeke laid Nate next to her and she strained to put her arm around him .


Zeke asked her ...I need to put a poultice on Pie , tell me what to do . She said ...The mix is in the bowl by the mustard seed ..and she explained how to make it . Zeke set a half bucket of water by the fire and walked out of the cabin .

[chuck j]

Zeke Sat on the porch a good while , she didn't know where he went or how long he would be gone . Finally Nate started crying , he waited a few min and went in . He walked over and picked Nate up and told her... Your not able to take care of him so I'll take him with me . He got the hot water bucket and left . He took Nate with him to wrap Pie's leg . When they got it done they went back to the cabin , Zeke put Nate on his pallet and got a sack and mustard mix . He said ...Tell me how to make it . She talked louder than before and explained to him . He made the poultice and took Nate with him . He bound the poultice on Pie's knee and went back to the cabin . He put Nate on his pallet and stirred the coals laying four ears next to them , they would need to cook a bit before he warmed the greens and rabbit dumplings . She was awake and watching and asked … Will you give me Nate ? He asked...Can you handle him ? She said...YES ! He put Nate next to her . He bent down with his back to her arranging the coals and was smiling .

[chuck j]

Zeke got the meal ready . He sat it on the table then went and laid Nate on his pallet . She was still awake and he asked her...Can you get your legs off the bed ? She said ...I'll try . She strained and finally got the leg by the side off , Zeke held her while she struggled but finally got the other one over with her feet on the floor . He said ...Can you stand ? She said...I can't . Zeke told her...You are one of two people I never though I would hear the words..'I can't'.. come out of their mouth ! I ain't seen NOTHIN you couldn't do ! Heck ! You threatened to gut shoot me ! Your surviving out here in the middle of no where with a baby and getting it done ! This bed is your enemy , it is holdin you prisoner ! You can tell me you'll try but don't ever tell me you ..'can't' . I am here to help you if you try but I ain't here to help you ...'can't'. The book of Matthew tells us ..Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father knowing . Now ma'am do you think GOD don't know our trouble ! GOD is going to help us !She sat there staring at him , then she pushed on the bed with her hands leaning forward but could not rise .

He put his hands under her arms and said ...Now try . He let her strain but slowly raised her to her feet and helped hold her up.. He said...Can you stand ? She raised her head looked in his face and said...I'll try . He slowly released her keeping his hands under her arms . She stood there straining breathing hard , she gritted her teeth . After a min she started to sink , he lowered her to the bed sitting . He said... You did it ! I'm proud for your tryin , now the next thing when you get better will be taking a few steps and dressing yourself . The more you move , the more you do and the more you try the quicker you get back to were you was . I'll tell you why I know when we get finished eatin .

[chuck j]

Zeke had moved the benches and table . One bench was against the wall and He picked her up and he sat her on it . He told her...I want this to be the last time I have to carry you .

He cut corn off in a bowl and put rabbit and dumplings with dandelion greens on a plate for her . He said ...I want you to feed yourself , if you can not I will help you . He gave her a half glass of water . Zeke fixed a plate for himself and Nate . He fed Nate as he ate and just talked as nothing had changed .


He said …I brought them greens to a boil , you can't be too careful in hot weather holdin food till the next day even vegetables ! My mother was real picky with eatin anything left over from yesterday . Zeke was watching her , she was having trouble getting food on her spoon and to her mouth but was able to do it slowly leaning over . He just kept talking ...Nate and me are goin to mow hay tomorrow morning , I'll take water and put him in the shade close . We got to get the hay in ma'am ...time is now to get it done . Nate will be fine , heck he's a good hand ! He'll be runnin this place fore long ! We got to teach him how to do things right ,he's a lot of company ma'am . She stopped eating and leaned back against the wall and said ...I picked two pecks of plums to dry , they are under the bushes on the east side . I don't expect they are any good now . Nate said … I'll take the mule and fetch em ma'am , be a shame to waste em . The other plums turned out real nice . You need to eat and drink some more ma'am it'll give you strength . She leaned forward and managed to eat most of her food .


Zeke finished slowly eating so to not get through before she did . He cleaned the plates off the table and washed them outside . He said ...I got to get everything put up ma'am , we are leavin early while it's cool . He finished up and got her bible and said ...I said we would have a bible readin so lets read John fourteen together . Oh lordy there is many messages in this chapter ! Lets read..

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father Revealed
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
The Answered Prayer
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Indwelling of the Father and the Son
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
The Gift of His Peace
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.